Is this a Faulty Cable Clockspring?

Sounds like it . What happened in my Gen2 also. Quickly replaced 45 min . All restored.

 

I don't think those U codes would result from a faulty spiral cable ("clock spring").

But those U codes could explain some of your symptoms. (Spiral cable could explain some too.)

If the car were mine, I would go through the troubleshooting for the U codes first. After those issues were squared away, then I would see if any symptoms remained that would suggest a spiral cable problem.

 

I had the same symptoms and it was the clock spring. I purchased it off of eBay for 30$ working great so far.

 

That's why I replaced without worrying of codes . Of course theyres comm errors Duh the cable mis communicates at various rotation points . Yeppers . Good job man .

 

Of course, those codes are specifically comm errors between the gateway ECU and the combination meter, and the gateway ECU and the body ECU, and none of that communication goes through the spiral cable, as a wiring diagram will show you.

 

But if we move steer wheel.and things be intermittent. Then I would probably have to say the connection is shoddy between the steering wheel buttons and what connects it to the rest of the car which is I guess this cable do flachi. At least was in a few of mine so far. Thank goodness my Corolla AE cars don't have this too many to replace.